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HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT 123
Healthservicesandsupport
Health services and support
What majors can I study?
The following are just some of the majors you can study in this
field:
What you’re in for
The health services and support field encompasses a wide range
of professions. Some health workers focus on running things
(health administration); some on advising and educating people
(health promotion or occupational health and safety); some on
working for or advising public agencies and other organisations
(public health); and some on delivering health services
(radiography or nutrition). There are also many degree options in
complementary health disciplines, such as homoeopathy,
naturopathy, acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine, which
offer an alternative to Western approaches.
Before commencing tertiary study, it’s likely that you have little
knowledge about the breadth of courses and occupations in this
field. We strongly recommend that you research the course you
are interested in and ask the provider to suggest organisations
that employ people in the field so that you can get a better feel for
it. You may be surprised how pleased people are to talk about
their work, even if you contact them out of the blue.
If you are interested in health services you should also see what’s
on offer in associated health-related fields (dentistry, nursing,
medicine, psychology, rehabilitation and veterinary science) and
welfare-related fields (social work).
Courses and specialisations
Remember that degrees in this field will not always be called
‘health’ or ‘health science’; many will be named after their
specialisations (such as a Bachelor of Oral Health or Bachelor of
Paramedicine). You should also note that many of these courses
will be narrowly focused on preparing students for particular
occupations. This can be great, but make sure that it’s what you
want or that you can change focus down the track if you need to.
Where to study
Many health professionals, such as medical imaging
technologists, need professional registration in order to gain
accreditation to practise, so it’s important to check that your
course meets the requirements of your chosen occupation before
you apply. When it comes to choosing a particular institution or
course you might also consider the amount of practical training
you will receive, the clinical facilities available, and (depending on
your interests) whether the faculty or college utilises any of the
increasingly popular online technologies that simulate the
practical aspects of the work.
Health services courses are generally quite tough to get into,
maybe due to the fact that they include a few rare and popular
courses, some that are dramatic and exciting (paramedics) and
others that are closely related to increasingly important roles that
promote healthy lifestyles and workplaces (nutrition and
occupational health and safety). Entry difficulty does, however,
vary between specialisations and institutions — some remain
very accessible.
To compare entry difficulty at different institutions, see the ‘How
tough is it to get in?’ tables in Section 4.
 FOR FURTHER HELP...
•
To compare the pros and cons of health services and support
with other fields of study, see the table on page 68 and
institution profiles in Section 4.
•
For more on jobs and careers in this field, see The Good
Careers Guide website at www.goodcareersguide.com.au.
•
For ratings of postgraduate health services and support
courses, see The Good Universities Guide website at
www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au.
•
Ambulance services
•
Community health
•
Disability studies
•
Health promotion
•
Natural medicine
•
Nutrition and dietetics
•
Oral health
•
Radiography
GUG 2017.book Page 123 Friday, June 24, 2016 2:39 PM